The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-07
WAS HE A DEAF MUTE ?
The Mysterious Case of George Nor
riSOD
Eron the Boston Glob,

under the title of The Murder of O Mind -
which recalls all the mystery and strange
associations in the case of Caspar Hauser,
the man who so years ago was the puzzle of
all Europe.
Mr. Marbles story deals with a case under
his own observation, which he alleges oc-
CURED III Massachusetts within few years.
Iii tho details of the case there is described
the murder of a mind, unlike in many re-
spertS that of Hauser, but none the less
auocious The victim appeared for a short
time, was studied, like Caspar Hauser, to no
end and the perpetrators eluded all attempts
at discovery.
The victim, too, disappeared and left no
Glow as to who were his prosecutors; the OBJ
ject of their scheme, however, was apparent.
Beyond doubt there was but one motive,
that of preying upon the benevolent, making
deaf mutes the victims and instruments of
fraud.
1t seems that late in the fall of 1854, Mr..
Marble received a slip from Pittsfield
paper, describing one George Morrison who
had gone about the town, bearing letter
with his MIR. Marbles name attached COM
mending him to the charitable. He was
deaf and dumb, and claimed that he was
raising funds with which to educate himself.
Mr. Marble had no recollection of writing
such letter, but at the time paid no atten-
ton to the matter.
Again in the spring of 1885 Mr.. Marble
heard of this same Morrison through Mr.
Flint, of Palmer, who wrote asking whether
he had furnished the letter of commenda-
ton. He could not remember having writ
ten any such letter, though in the pres
sure of business such might have been pos
sible. He made answer to Mr.. Flint to this
effect.
Soon Mr.. Palmer, a sheriff of Hampton
county, called on Mr.. Marble and told him
the circumstances. Morrison had called ON
Mr. Flint, and presenting the letter bearing
Mr.. Marbles signature he had received lib
cral aid further, Mr.. Flint gave him a let
ter to number of his friends.
Armed with this the boy visited North
Adams, Pittsfield, and other towns and re-
turned to Mr.. Flint saying he only lacked
So IS of the $500 necessary to send him to
school. Mr.. Flint gave him the remainder,
but was much surprised within a few weeks
to hear of the boy in Connecticut, still So
letting aid and for the same avowed pur-
pose He began to grow suspicious and
CAUSED THE Boys ARREST,
he being brought to Palmer.
Mr.. Marble was present at the prelimi-
nary trial, not without misgivings as to the
treachery of his memory.
When the lad was produced he was found
to be about 10 or II years of age, pale of
countenance, but by no means full of
anxiety. He was dressed in common clothes,
checked shirt, without collar or cravat. He
evinced no surprise, intelligence or anxiety.
He looked upon those about him as a
chimpanzee might upon the crowds at the
menagerie. When his gaze rested on Mr..
Marble he showed no sign of recognition.
Could it be possible Mr.. Marble had forgot
ten both the meeting with him and his face
likewise?
The case was called; the charge obtain
ing money under false pretences; the
prisoner pleaded not guilty. Some one COM
municated the proceedings to him in writing
and guarded his rights The witnesses bore
their testimony, and Mr.. Flint produced the
scraps of paper on which were his converse
ton with Morrison.
When Mr.. Marble was called, the pris-
oner seemed not to know his name, or ever
to have seen him. The letter was produced,
and it was found to be not in the handwTlt-
ing of Mr. Marble, nor was the signature
genuine. This indicated Mr.. Marbles
memory, but his interest was excited.
1t appeared that Morrison had attended
school at Worcester, had been in the institu-
ton at Northampton, and again in the
asylum at Portland, Me. 1t was shown that
he had at times sums of money reaching into
the thousands, but when arrested he had
only So or 81 and bunch of keys to five
Yale locks
Whence he came, no trace could be found.
The schools which he claimed to have at
tended knew nothing of him. There he was
with 50 in his possession, the keys and moth
ing more. Where did the keys belong? What
had become of the money he had collected?
All was profound mystery.
The boy would answer with great prompt
ness any question about the schools he at
tended, and when he made any inconsistent
statement he quickly framed an explanation.
He was cunning and as cool as if he were
used to addressing courts.
Finally he was told that he would be sent
to Jail unless he told the truth. He said:
81 tell the truth l have not cheated"
Mr. Marble asked him who was his friends.
He said; Let them find out, they are so
smart"
At last he said he had an uncle in Hya-
cinth, P Q. This led Mr.. Marble to think
He replied:
"Non, je ne parle pas, mails je, fecris"
(No, do not speak it, but write it,.
He knew something Of two languages, he
knew of several schools, he was quick
witted, he had much money at times, and
the
STORY ABOUT BEING ROBBED
was inconsistent. About the letter over Mr..
Marbles name, he said it had been given
him by some one at the Waverley House in
Worcester.
The lad was committed TO aWalU Une &C
ton of the grand jury, and lay i'll Jail in
Springfield during the summer and until
late i'll the fall. It was found he had been
at one of the hotels under four different
names, had played at billiards and went
about soliciting money, always inquiring
when he came back whether any one, par
ticularly the police, had been looking for
him.
On hearing of the boy Mr. Smell said he
knew of similar case occurring in Tren-
ton, n. j. Morrison, however did not CORE
spond with the man Mr.. Smell had seen.
Again, a similar incident, deaf and
dumb boy soliciting money in order to at
tend school was heard of in New York
State, but he could not'be identified as Nor
rjson.
The only other incident during the sum
mer that bears upon the subject was that
stranger stepped from train at Springfield
and inquired for Morrison. This was the
guilty party whom Morrison's imprisonment
was to bring to light.
Finding Morrison was in JAIL he boarded
the train and was never seen again. The
person whom he addressed did not know the
Importance of causing his arrest. While
III Jail Morrison had been surprised once or
twice in uttering sounds, which led the keep
ers TO believe he could hear and speak. In
the main, however, he was as deaf and
dumb person He neither wrote nor received
any letters nor were any inquiries made for